Last night his mum Julie, 49, said his catalogue of mugshots “breaks my heart”.

“It makes me realise how much of Dale’s life I’ve missed”

Julie Carter, Mum

She added: “It makes me realise how much of Dale’s life I’ve missed. Since he was 14 he has spent more time inside than out and he’s come to see that as normal. Prison gives him rules he can live by. He feels secure there.

“But he has his own son now and I don’t want Dale to miss out on bringing him up.”

Julie said the “worst thing” that happened to Carter was becoming the youngest person in town with an Asbo.